Oilers deal Torres to Blue Jackets for Brule

The Oilers traded forward Raffi Torres to the Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Gilbert Brule.

EN Says: This is kind of an odd move for the Blue Jackets who have been seen as a team needing to make a splash in free agency in order to make a legit run at a playoff seeding. Columbus general manager Scott Howson was the assistant general manager in Edmonton from 2002 until 2007 so he's familiar with Torres who's a solid physical player with 20-goal potential. But it's still an unexpected move for them.

Edmonton needed some salary cap relief and moving Torres frees up some money. They picked up a big contract the day before when they traded for Lubomir Visnovsky. For what it's worth, the Oilers are one of 52 teams allegedly interested in Marian Hossa.

Brule was the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft and for whatever reason, he's never put it together in Columbus. Perhaps a change of scenery will get him kick-started.

(Photo: Edmonton Oilers)